Project description:Recent cancer genome sequencing studies have identified numerous novel candidate driver genes. In vivo functional investigation of oncogenes using somatic gene transfer has been successfully exploited as a versatile means to validate their pathogenic relevance. In contrast, such functional analyses have been hampered for candidate tumor suppressor genes, e.g. by insufficient knockdown using RNAi-mediated approaches. In order to provide a flexible method for investigating loss-of-function mutations and their potential role in tumorigenesis, we have established CRISPR/Cas9-mediated somatic gene disruption, allowing for in vivo deletion of candidate tumor suppressor genes. We demonstrate the utility of this approach by somatic disruption of the Ptch1 gene in the mouse cerebellum, leading to the formation of medulloblastoma faithfully resembling the SHH-driven subgroup of the disease. This in vivo method for validation of candidate tumor suppressor genes provides a fast and convenient system for the generation of faithful animal models of human cancer.
Project description:Ctcf heterozygous knockout mice are susceptible to neoplasia in a broad range of tissues, including lymphoma, endometrial cancer, and non-small cell lung cancer. Retention of the wild type Ctcf allele in these tumors establishes CTCF as a haploinsufficient tumor suppressor gene. Both human tumors and normal murine tissues with CTCF disruption are characterized by genome-wide differences in DNA methylation relative to CTCF wild type tissues, indicating even modest disruption of CTCF broadly destabilizes DNA methylation in vivo. This cross species functional analysis identifies CTCF as a commonly mutated tumor suppressor gene and establishes a central role for DNA methylation stability in tumor suppression. RRBS sequencing of transgenic Ctcf heterozygous mice and wild-type litter mate whole lung tissue.
Project description:Proteome analysis reveals that the tumor suppressor kinase DAPK3 drives tumor-intrinsic immunity through the STING-IFNb pathway Proteome
Project description:In this study, we identify leucyl-tRNA synthetase (LARS) as a breast tumor suppressor. To identify the mechanism underlying LARS-mediated breast tumor suppression, we conducted TMT-proteomics in PyMT mouse tumors with monoallelic genetic deletion of LARS in the mammary tumor compartment. The analyses implicate LARS as a regulator of leucine-rich protein translation resulting in downregulation of candidate leucine-rich tumor suppressor genes.
